Multi-purpose stopper

ABSTRACT

A stopper having a tubular adapter provided with flexible flanges which are deflected into sealing engagement with the side of an opening in a wine jug when the adapter is pressed therein. The tubular adapter will support a fermentation lock in operating position on the jug or, alternatively, a cap is fitted to the adapter in one position to act as a normal closure for the jug and in another inverted position to serve as a combined closure and safety valve.

United States Patent Forman 1 June 20, 1972 541 MULTI-PURPOSE STOPPER 3,009,594 11/1961 Anson ..215/48 [121 William mma, 4817 Glendak f'2?'%$ 133323 32333.: 113125;?

Avenue, Delta, British Columbia, Canada 22 1=11= Feb. 12, 1971 Primary Examiner-19899111 Lwlair Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus PP 4,859 Anomey-Fetherstonhaugh & Co.

[52] US. Cl. ..2l5/48, 215/56, 220/44 R, [57] CT 220/44 A A stopper having a tubular adapter provided with flexible [51] Int. Cl ..B65d 41/28 fl nge wh ch ar deflec d int sealing engagement with the 58 Field of Search ..215/4s, 56,74, 37-,220/4411, side of an opening in a win 1': Whm adapter is Pressed 220 22 554 54 therein. The tubular adapter will support a fermentation lock in operating position on the jug or, alternatively, a cap is fitted [56] References CM to the adapter in one position to act as a normal closure for the jug and in another inverted position to serve as a combined UNITED STATES PATENTS closure and sa ety e.

3,005,455 10/1961 Poitras et a1 ..2l5/56 10 cum, 6 Drawing mum I 23 26 I l I6 WI 1 L 1. 1

I a 1 \14 I PA'TENTtnaunzolerz 4 3,670,915

WILLIAM E. FORMAN 92M @229. ATTORNE S MULTI-PURPOSE STOPPER My invention relates generally to stoppers for various types of containers and more particularly to a stopper for a wine jug.

An amateur wine maker usually finds himself in possession of a collection of containers such as l-gallon jugs and S-gallon carboys and the like. These glass jugs are of standard sizes as far as their capacity is concerned but different manufacturers will vary the inside diameter of the opening in the neck of the jug and, as a result, the wine maker is faced with the problem of finding a suitable cork for each container in his collection. As the wine ferments, some provision must be made for venting the jugs of excessive gas pressure and a commonly used device for this purpose is one called a fermentation lock which acts as a mechanical vent. The fermentation lock has a depending tube which must be inserted into the neck of the jug and, in order to support the lock in operating position, many wine makers use an ordinary cork which will fit the particular jug and drill a hole in the center of this cork to take the tube. This makes it necessary to have a supply of corks on hand and to adapt some of them as a support for a fermentation lock all of which adds to the cost of preparing homemade wine and is an inconvenience which is objected to by many amateur wine makers.

I have overcome the disadvantages of conventional household corks and rubber stoppers intended for use on wine jugs by providing a device which will fit a number of containers even when there is a considerable variation in the inside diameters of the neck openings. The present stopper can be assembled one way to act simply as a positive closure for a jug and in a second alternative way to act as a combined closure and safety valve should excessive pressure develop within the jug. Whenever it is necessary to use a fermentation lock, the stopper can readily be converted for use as an adapter which will fit the lock to the neck of the jug.

In drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a plan of the multi-purpose stopper showing part of the cap broken away,

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the adapter taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. I with the cap being shown by dotted lines only,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cap,

FIG. 4 is a detailed section showing the cap fitted to the adapter in a first position of use,

FIG. 5 is a similar view showing the cap in a second position of use, and

FIG. 6 is an elevation showing the stopper supporting a conventional fermentation lock.

Referring to the drawings, the present stopper which is indicated generally by the numeral 10 preferably is formed of a suitable plastic such as polyethylene. This particular plastic can readily be injection molded to provide a tough, non-corrosive and slightly resiliently stopper which is odourless and easily kept clean.

The stopper 10 comprises a tubular adapter 12 having a side wall 14 and a top wall 15. The horizontal top wall 15 projects laterally beyond the cylindrical side wall 14 and terminates in an upper rim 16. The vertical rim 16 has an upper edge 18 and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of said rim near this edge is a rounded head 19, see particularly FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. The circular rim 16 and top wall 15 provide the adapter 12 with a relatively shallow recess 23. A centrally disposed sleeve 24 is integrally formed on the top wall 15, the sleeve projecting above as well as below said top wall. Upper edge 26 of the sleeve 24 is disposed about midway between the top wall 15 and the upper edge 18 of the rim.

Within the recess 23, there is a plurality of radial ribs 28 which are integrally formed with the top wall 15, the rim l6, and the upper end of the sleeve 24 so as to reinforce the aforesaid parts of the adapter. The reinforcing ribs 28 merge with the rim 16 adjacent other reinforcing ribs 29 which extend vertically of said rim on the outer surface thereof. The plastic material used to form the adapter 12 is fairly soft and quite pliable but has sufiicient natural resiliency to return to its original shape if it is distorted. Reinforcing ribs 28 and 29 increase the strength and rigidity of adjoining parts of the adapter 12 while still allowing the rim 16 in particular to be flexed as required.

On the outer surface of the cylindrical side wall 14, there are a suitable number of integrally formed flanges 32, see FIG. 2. These circular flanges 32 preferably are tapered from the wall 14 towards their outer edges 33.

In FIG. 2, the numeral 36 indicates a typical wine jug having a neck 37 which provides the jug with an inlet-outlet opening 38. The inside diameter of the opening 38 will vary slightly from one jug to another but the adapter 12 can be inserted into the neck 37 to plug the opening 38 because of the flanges 32. To insert the adapter 12, the cylindrical side wall 14 is pushed into the neck 37 to cause the adapter 12 to jarnb or to be frictionally held in substantially the same manner as a cork is held in a bottle. As this is done, some or all of the resilient flanges 32 are deflected upwardly as shown in FIG. 2. The portions of the flanges 32 nearest the tips 33 grip the neck 37 so as to strongly resist upward movement of the adapter 12. Since the plastic flanges 32 are firmly and resiliently pressed against the inner surface of the glass neck 37, a fluid and gas tight seal is provided between side wall 14 of the adapter and the neck surface. If the inside diameter of the neck is slightly irregular as sometimes is the case, the side wall 14 will flex quite readily to compensate for such a flaw in the jug. The neck of the jug will sometimes be slightly undersize but this presents no real difiiculty with the present stopper. The adapter 12 is simply heated in warm water whereupon the plastic material becomes softer and more pliable. In this condition, the adapter 12 can quite easily be forced into an undersize neck and, 37 when it later cools, the same tight seal is achieved.

The multi-purpose stopper 10 includes a cap which is generally indicated at 40, the cap also preferably being formed of a suitable plastic material. Referring now to FIG. 3, the cap 40 is shown to comprise a disc 42 and an integral stem 43. The centrally disposed and hollow stem 43 stands above a surface 44 of the disc 42, which surface will herein be referred to as the top of the cap. Circular disc 42 then has a plane bottom surface 45 and a beveled edge 46 which tapers inwardly from said bottom surface to the top surface 44.

The diameter of the disc 42 is slightly greater than the inside diameter of the rim 16 of the adapter. Thus, the cap 40 is a press fit in the adapter 12 and the flexible rim 16 must be spread to a slight extent before the cap can be inserted therein as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5. When cap 40 is inserted as in FIGS. 2 and 4, this is referred to as the safety position of the cap, since it then serves as a safety valve. At this time, surface 45 of the disc 42 is in contact with the upper edge 26 of the sleeve and this edge serves as a stop to limit further penetration of the cap into the recess 23. The bead 19 overlaps the edge of the disc 42 and actually bears on the upper surface 44 with the beveled edge 46 sloping downwardly and inwardly away from said bead.

The above described overlapping and interlocking of the several parts of the cap 40 and rim 16 provides a relatively light seal at the bead 19. If any appreciable amount of pressure should develop within the jug 36 due to fermentation of the wine, the seal at the bead 19 will break or yield sufficiently to allow excess pressure to escape so that the jug will not shatter. An amateur wine maker can easily misjudge the fermentation period of this homemade wine since, generally, he does not have the testing equipment necessary to run a proper check on this very important phase of the process. If the wine maker does error at this point, it is quite possible for fermentation to restart in the jug or bottle after he corks and stores his wine under the mistaken impression that fermentation is over. Use of the present stopper relieves the home wine maker of the need to conduct proper fermentation tests or concern himself about jar breakages due to excessive pressure build-ups.

Cap 40 is used in the safety position usually at the end of the period when the wine in the jug 36 is judged to have stopped fermenting but when there is still some likelihood of a sudden build-up of gas pressure. Should this pressure develop and reach a predetermined level, the cap 40 will be forced upwardly so that the beveled edge 46 exerts an outwardly directed force on the overlapping bead 19 and the rim 16 is expanded sufficiently to release the resilient sealing pressure applied by the rim to the cap. The size and shape of the bead l9 and edge 46 are such that these interlocking members normally will retain the cap in the safety position and, at the same time, will ensure that the stopper 10 forms a proper but yieldable seal for the jug. The cap 40 is readily removed when necessary by grasping the stem 43 and exerting a laterally directed pull thereon so as to rock the beveled edge 46 of the disc past the bead 19 on the rim. 1 I

If after a period of from 10 days to 2 weeks, the cap 40 has not been forced from the safety position, the wine maker can safely assume that all fermentation has ceased. Once the fermentation period is over and the wine is merely being stored in the jug 36,'it may be considered desirable to assemble the stopper l tov provide a positive seal which could not accidentally be broken and, to do this, the cap 40 is inserted as shown in FIG. 5 which is the locked position of said cap. To insert the cap 40 in the FIG. 5 position, the cap is turned so that the surface 45 is uppermost and the stem 43 is depending below the disc 42. In this inverted position, the cap 40 is pushed into the recess 23 and it will be found that some efiort is required to do so. The beveled edge 46 engages the bead l9 and wedges the rim 16 outwardly as the cap 40 is thrust into the recess 23 and, once the disc 42 is below the bead and in contact with the upper edge or stop 26 of the sleeve, then the resilient rim 16 will snap inwardly to hold the cap against withdrawal. The bead 19 now overlaps the beveled edge 46 and these two members are firmly interlocked. The stem 43 now projects into the sleeve 24 and since no part of the cap 40 projects above the rim 16, there is no danger of said cap being accidentally knocked out of the adapter 12. In other words the stopper 10 now provides a positive seal for the jug as opposed to the yieldable seal which is provided when the cap 40 is in the safety position.

It should be noted that the term lock" is used in the sense that a reasonably strong force must be properly applied to the cap 40 in order to eject it from the adapter 12. Normally, the interlocking members 19 and 46 will firmly secure the cap 40 to the adapter but if the stopper 10 is removed from the jug and a suitable tool is inserted through the sleeve 24, then the cap can be forced out of the recess 23.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the numeral 50 indicates generally a conventional fermentation lock of the type commonly used by amateur wine makers. The glass or plastic lock 50 has a depending tube 52 which must be inserted into the neck of the jug and sealed therein in order for the lock to operate as required when the jug is filled with fermenting wine. The stopper 10 can readily be converted for this purpose and this is done by detaching the cap 40 from the adapter 12 and installing the adapter into the neck 36 as described above. The tube 52 of the fermentation lock is then pushed a suitable distance into the sleeve 24 and, since the tube is a press fit in the sleeve, a gas tight seal is provided therebetween. The lock 50 then is supported by the adapter 12 in an upright position and in communication with the interior of the jug 36 so that said lock is able to operate in the normal manner as fermentation takes place.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent l have provided an extremely simple, inexpensive, yet effective stopper for a wine jug. The stopper 10 serves a three-fold purpose and is suitable for use on jugs having necks which may be of irregular shape and of varying sizes. The plastic stopper is easy to wash and sterilize and the device can be used over and over again since the flanges 32 are not damaged when the adapter 12 is inserted into the neck of the jug nor are the interlocking members l9 and 46 worn to an appreciable extent by repeated removal and reattachment of the cap 40. It is an extremely sim le matter to change the ca e 40 from the safety position (Fl 4) to the locked position FIG. 5) or vice versa, and also to remove the cap from the adapter 12 altogether so as to convert the latter member for use in supporting the fermentation lock.

l CLAIM:

1. A stopper for a wine jug or the like comprising a tubular adapter insertable into the neck of the jug and having an upper rim, a cap attachable to the upper rim to close the tubular adapter, interlocking members on the upper rim and the cap,

said cap being attachable to the upper rim in a safety position or in a locked position inverted with respect to said safety position, said interlocking members yielding to release the cap from the safety position in response to a predetermined pressure developed within the jug.

2. A stopper as claimed in claim 1, in which said tubular adapter has a side wall, a plurality of flexible flanges projecting laterally of the side wall, said flanges being deflected upwardly by insertion of the tubular adapter into the neck of the jug whereby to seal the opening therein.

3. A stopper as claimed in claim 1, in which said adapter has a top wall below the upper rim, and a sleeve extending through the top wall adapted to receive and support a tube projecting therethrough.

4. A stopper for a wine jug or the like comprising a tubular adapter insertable into the neck of the jug and having a cylindrical side wall, a top wall, and an upper rim, said side wall having a plurality of flexible sealing flanges projecting laterally therefrom, a sleeve extending through the top wall, a cap insertable into the upper rim to close the tubular adapter and having a beveled edge, an inwardly projecting bead on the upper rim cooperating with the beveled edge to retain the cap within the upper rim, said cap having a safety position and locked position inverted with respect to said safety position, said beveled edge and inwardly projecting bead yielding to release the cap from the safety position in response to a predetermined pressure developed within the jug.

5. A stopper as claimed in claim 4, in which said upper rim is formed of flexible material and is momentarily expanded by insertion of the cap.

6. A stopper as claimed in claim 4, in which the entire adapter is formed of plastic.

7. A stopper as claimed in claim 4, in which said sleeve projects above the top wall to provide a stop limiting movement of the cap into the upper rim.

8. A stopper as claimed in claim 4, and including a plurality of ribs reinforcing the upper rim against distortion.

9. A stopper as claimed in claim 8, in which some of said plurality of ribs extend radially of the recess to interconnect the top wall, the upper rim, and the upper end of the sleeve.

10. A stopper as claimed in claim 9, in which other of the plurality of ribs are circumferentially spaced around the outer periphery of the upper rim. 

1. A stopper for a wine jug or the like comprising a tubular adapter insertable into the neck of the jug and having an upper rim, a cap attachable to the upper rim to close the tubular adapter, interlocking members on the upper rim and the cap, said cap being attachable to the upper rim in a safety position or in a locked position inverted with respect to said safety position, said interlocking members yielding to release the cap from the safety position in response to a predetermined pressure developed within the jug.
 2. A stopper as claimed in claim 1, in which said tubular adapter has a side wall, a plurality of flexible flanges projecting laterally of the side wall, said flanges being deflected upwardly by insertion of the tubular adapter into the neck of the jug whereby to seal the opening therein.
 3. A stopper as claimed in claim 1, in which said adapter has a top wall below the upper rim, and a sleeve extending through the top wall adapted to receive and support a tube projecting therethrough.
 4. A stopper for a wine jug or the like comprising a tubular adapter insertable into the neck of the jug and having a cylindrical side wall, a top wall, and an upper rim, said side wall having a plurality of flexible sealing flanges projecting laterally therefrom, a sleeve extending through the top wall, a cap insertable into the upper rim to close the tubular adapter and having a beveled edge, an inwardly projecting bead on the upper rim cooperating with the beveled edge to retain the cap within the upper rim, said cap having a safety position and locked position inverted with respect to said safety position, said beveled edge and inwardly projecting bead yielding to release the cap from the safety position in response to a predetermined pressure developed within the jug.
 5. A stopper as claimed in claim 4, in which said upper rim is formed of flexible material and is momentarily expanded by insertion of the cap.
 6. A stopper as claimed in claim 4, in which the entire adapter is formed of plastic.
 7. A stopper as claimed in claim 4, in which said sleeve projects above the top wall to provide a stop limiting movement of the cap into the upper rim.
 8. A stopper as claimed in claim 4, and including a plurality of ribs reinforcing the upper rim against distortion.
 9. A stopper as claimed in claim 8, in which some of said plurality of ribs extend radially of the recess to interconnect the top wall, the upper rim, and the upper end of the sleeve.
 10. A stopper as claimed in claim 9, in which other of the plurality of ribs are circumferentially spaced around the outer periphery of the upper rim. 